Strategic role for the human
resources function
The human resources management function
is becoming more important in many organizations
because it is being called upon to serve
as a partner in strategic planning and decision
making to facilitate strategy formulation and
implementation. This new role is critical because
how people are managed will have a
significant impact upon the success or failure
of health care business strategies. If a firm
plans to build a new facility to implement a
cost-reduction strategy or serve a new market,
the effort is far more likely to be successful if
the human resource management function
participates in the site selection choice. Input
regarding the supply and demand for skilled
health care employees in the locality, the cost,
and the prevailing values and beliefs of area
residents and community leaders would be
very important in making correct decisions.
Because the culture of the organization must
be consistent with organizational strategies,
and managing people has such an important
impact on cultural development and maintenance,
involving those with human resources
management expertise in the formulation and
implementation of health care organizational
strategy significantly increases the probability
of success in achieving the goals of the
organization